Amador County – California Department of Fire Protection fought eight fires fueled by winds as fast as 75 mph last week, but averted catastrophe as of late Friday afternoon.
CDF Amador-El Dorado Unit Prevention Officer Teri Mizuhara said Unit personnel helped at least partially contain 6 wildfires, while 2 were fully contained by 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Mizuhara said “Cal-Fire answered the call” when “a major wind event occurred Wednesday (Nov. 30) evening through Thursday (Dec. 1) causing multiple wildland fires throughout El Dorado County.”
As predicted by the National Weather Service, north and northeast wind gusts neared 75 mph over the ridge tops causing fires to spread rapidly in the Pollock Pines, Grizzly Flat and Omo Ranch areas of the El Dorado County. “Cal-Fire’s immediate response kept fires from spreading to catastrophic dimensions,” Mizuhara said.
Incident Commander Brian Estes acknowledged his personnel’s readiness, saying: “We are an all risk emergency services agency ready to respond 24/7 to any incident that occurs. We have trained for just this type of emergency and it shows.”
Estes said: “These fires could have been devastating to the local community, destroying homes and lives but it didn’t and that is a direct result of our aggressive response and cooperative efforts with fellow El Dorado County fire agencies.”
By Friday afternoon, Mizuhara said, the “Omo Fire” on Omo Ranch Road was 3 acres and 100 percent contained. One vacant structure and one outbuilding were destroyed. The “Boondock Fire” in Fairplay on Boondock Trail was a spot fire, also 100 percent contained. Also in Omo area, the “Kirk Fire” on Stinson Road was 5 acres and 90 percent contained.
Mizuhara said there were 44 pieces of equipment and 433 personnel fighting fires over the weekend, and crews will remain on the fires until they are fully contained. She said residents may smell smoke for several weeks due to smoldering vegetation within fire containment lines.
The “Sciaroni Fire” in Grizzly Flats was 80 acres and 60 percent contained. The “Groovy Fire” off Highway 50 near Plum Creek Road at 44 acres was 60 percent contained. Mizuhara said three fires making up the “Onyx Fires” off Sly Park Road and Onyx Drive in Pollock Pine were 80 percent contained, at 15 acres.
Local and Federal agencies who also supported the firefighting effort were the U.S. Forest Service, El Dorado County Fire, Rescue Fire, Latrobe Fire, Diamond Springs Fire, El Dorado Hills Fire, California Highway Patrol and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
